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‘A few of my favourite things - sweet peas, long walks, and tea in bed reading the qualities on a Sunday.’

‘The total sales of the qualities were still only one fifth that of the populars.’

‘The ‘qualities’ usually have in-depth news items, backed up by articles written by staff writers or outsiders interpreting the news.’

‘The middle grouping make up the majority readership of these scandal sheets, but they are also much less likely to read the qualities.’

‘The circulation figures of the populars are decidedly higher than those of the qualities.’

1.3archaic High social standing.

‘commanding the admiration of people of quality’

‘It must be noted that, in 1709, Jonathan Swift found little discipline at the universities and little learning amongst the gentlemen of high quality.’

‘Women were starting to make their voices heard and one of them, Mary Cowper De Grey, recounts the story of a group of ladies of quality who are determined to make Shakespeare fashionable.’

‘Thus, we find descriptions of the professional nurses as “women of quality, sensible, kindly, home-makers, endowed with sympathy, brains, and tact.”’

‘Tague shows how this rhetoric, although often seen as representing the rise of middle class ideology, was in fact adopted and exploited by wealthy, fashionable ‘women of quality’.’

‘Diamonds and handsome jewels are never worn in the street nor in travelling by Englishwomen of quality, who consider that such ornaments should be reserved for the evening or for large and gay occasions.’

1.4archaic treated as pluralPeople of high social standing.

‘he's dazed at being called on to speak before quality’

‘‘Aren't you ashamed to expose yourself before quality in that way?” said his wife, in an angry tone.’

‘"But he does want it all the same, very bad - don't you, Jem? - only, you see, he's dazed at being called on to speak before quality."’

2A distinctive attribute or characteristic possessed by someone or something.

‘he shows strong leadership qualities’

‘the plant's aphrodisiac qualities’

‘Strong character and the right attitude, allied to skill, team spirit and a work ethic are all qualities he attributes to his new charges.’

‘Reg was a most popular man, admired for his leadership qualities and sincere dedication to everything he tackled.’

‘It seems incredibly stupid and as yet I cannot find one redeeming quality in this story.’

‘He showed strong leadership qualities and organisational skills.’

‘It's a triangular route, taking in the raised ground at the join of two valleys, and each side has distinctive qualities.’

‘The quality of standing behind and extending support to any social cause often goes silently unnoticed.’

‘There is an interesting quality of delicacy attributed to Elizabeth.’

‘Ralph's superior leadership qualities are reflected in his constant defence of Piggy.’

‘Of the qualities associated with the color blue, trust and faith rank high.’

‘The idea of ‘innocence’ is a central quality in the social construction of childhood.’

‘Much of our evidence for ancient philosophy has a similarly accidental quality, and has come down to us in fragments.’

‘The mirror-like quality of standing water may have had symbolic implications too.’

‘He has the right fundamental qualities for national leadership and that is why I commend him to all Conservatives.’

‘Reputed to have aphrodisiac qualities, the plant resembles fennel, and used to be collected for sale at London markets.’

‘By contrast, the female characters are sparsely developed and possess few redeeming qualities.’

‘Lack of charisma, timidity and humility seem to be the criteria that negate strong leadership qualities.’

‘To say of Socrates that he is human is to say what he is, whereas to say that he is literate is not to say what he is but rather to give a quality that he has.’

‘Bizarrely, only six items describe the unique qualities that distinguish a doctor from other healthcare workers.’

‘As a class, we openly discussed why these qualities are valued in boys and girls.’

‘Nowadays it is the refugee to whom we attribute the qualities of fatefulness, tragedy, and loss.’

Origin

Middle English (in the senses ‘character, disposition’ and ‘particular property or feature’): from Old French qualite, from Latin qualitas (translating Greek poiotēs), from qualis ‘of what kind, of such a kind’.